Cell attack a sample of Tennant Creek’s tensions
Paul Toohey; 7/6/08
It was, as far as Northern Territory juries go, a rare vote against the police. Last month Sergeant Michael James Bourke was found guilty of bashing a handcuffed and drunk Aboriginal prisoner in the cells of the Tennant Creek lock-up. Seated in the court with Bourke, 34, was his pregnant wife and 20 or so uniformed and plainclothes officers. What was the message behind this show of solidarity? That bashing blackfellas was all right? It wasn’t just that Bourke, who will be sentenced on Thursday, had admitted kicking Graham Kunoth in the head as he lay on the floor; he had gone further, trying to wipe out CCTV images of the cells. The case has touched a nerve in the Northern Territory - though not, as some might expect, for exposing racism in the force. It has focused attention on what police must deal with on the outback’s frontlines.
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23824154-5013172,00.html
Tags: Aboriginal, Australia, Violence